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Spanish, John J.


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Map of Hibbing
Hibbing, MN

House 1969-70 (District 63); House 1973-78 (District 5B)

Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

Counties Served:  St. Louis

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 06/01/1922 Date of Death: 12/12/2011
Birth Place: Hibbing, Minnesota Birth County: St. Louis Birth Country: United States
Other Names:
Gender:  Male Religion:  Not Reported
City of Residence (when first elected):  Hibbing

Occupation (when first elected):  Machinist/Diesel Mechanic/Iron Ore Miner

EDUCATION

Hibbing High School; Secondary; Graduate
University of Minnesota, Extension Schools; Attended College; Vocational Related Courses

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Municipal Council/AldermenHibbing, Minnesota (Village Council, 9 years) ??/??/19?? to ??/??/19??
MilitaryUnited States Navy (World War II, Purple Heart Recipient) ??/??/1942 to ??/??/1946

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Single
Children:
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He was of Croatian ancestry.

He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party.

He received national press in 1978 when he introduced a bill (House File 2449) to allow elderly, blind, or disabled people to hunt and fish without licenses.

He ran unsuccessfully as a write-in candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1978 election.

He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party endorsement for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2000, and 2010 primary elections; and the 2011 special election primary.

He ran unsuccessfully as the Independence party candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 2004 election.

He died at St. Raphael's Health Care Center in Eveleth, Minnesota.

Legislative Session: 70th (1977-1978)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/2/1976 Term of Office: 1/4/1977 to 1/2/1979
District: 05B Residence: Hibbing
Counties Represented: St. Louis
Occupation: Machinist/Mechanic, United States Steel Corporation
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
Criminal Justice
Health and Welfare
Higher Education

Legislative Session: 69th (1975-1976)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/5/1974 Term of Office: 1/7/1975 to 1/3/1977
District: 05B Residence: Hibbing
Counties Represented: St. Louis
Occupation: Machinist/Mechanic
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
Crime Prevention and Corrections
Health and Welfare
Higher Education

Legislative Session: 68th (1973-1974)   Session Details term photo
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Body: House Elected: 11/7/1972 Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 1/6/1975
District: 05B Residence: Hibbing
Counties Represented: St. Louis
Occupation: Machinist/Mechanic
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
Committees:
Commerce and Economic Development
Crime Prevention and Corrections
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
Health and Welfare
Higher Education

Legislative Session: 66th (1969-1970)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/5/1968 Term of Office: 1/7/1969 to 1/4/1971
District: 63 Residence: Hibbing
Counties Represented: St. Louis
Occupation: Machinist/Diesel Mechanic/Iron Ore Miner
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
Commerce and Economic Development
Crime Prevention
General Legislation, Veterans, and Consumer Affairs
Health and Welfare
Higher Education
Municipal Affairs

Articles & Books About
Lundy, John. "John Spanish, Colorful Iron Range Legislator, Dies at 90 (Obituary)." Duluth News Tribune, December 14, 2011.

"Former Range Lawmaker Dies (Obituary)." Hibbing Daily Tribune, December 13, 2011.




The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.

Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, 645 State Office Building, Saint Paul, MN  55155